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Afghanistan ousted from U-19 WC

KABUL (PAN): Although Afghanistan defeated Scotland in their last match in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Australia, they were ousted from the mega event, an official said on Wednesday.

Scotland finished bottom of Group B with three losses in a row. The Scots suffered a 10-run defeat at the hands of Afghanistan after a dramatic collapse, team manager Sher Agha Hamkar told Pajhwok from Buderim over the telephone.

Captain Javed Ahmadi won the toss and chose to bat in the stipulated 50 overs game, with his side setting the rivals a 192-run target. Opener Ahmadi top-scored with 71 runs. The line-up struggled to get partnerships going, with only three pairs touching 30.

Hamkar said the biggest stand of the innings accounted for 39 runs, for the ninth wicket. Most of the damage was inflicted by bowlers Ruaidhri Smith and Main, both taking four wickets apiece.

Chasing the target, Scotland at one point were 120 for two in the 32nd over. In the final 10 overs, they needed just 43, with five wickets in hand.

But Afghanistan struck four times in four overs from then on, squashing all lingering Scottish hope. At the start of the 49th over, Scotland -- nine down -- needed 13 off 12.

Medium pacer Yamin Ahmadzai responded by bowling five dot balls to last man Gavin Main. The match eventually ended with four balls remaining, Main was run out, the fourth such dismissal of the innings, by wicketkeeper Afsar Khan.